Albert i



(No Model.)

A. I. GROWELL. SHOBLAGBFASTENING.

No. 473,615. Patented Apr. 26, 1892.

p l V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT I. OROWELL, OF NEI/V YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FREDERICK B. GODDARD, OF SAME PLACE.

SHOE-LACE FASTENING..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 473,615, dated April 26, 1892.

Application filed .I une 22, 1891.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT I. CRowELL, of New York city, New York, have invented an Improved Button, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to a button of the kind which grasps the end of a lacing-string, so as to avoid tying, such as illustrated in Patent No. 418,689, granted to me January 7, 1890.

The invention consists in the various features of improvement more fully pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings,which are on an enlarged scale, Figure l represents a top view of a pair of the buttons, showing them in use; Fig. 2, a side view of the same; Fig. 3,a front view of the button before the prongs are upset.

The entire button is made of one piece of bent sheet metal; butfor the sake of greater clearness the different parts will be designated by different letters of reference.

The button consists ot' a long and narrow strip of metal bent twice upon itself, first forward and then backward. formed a top section a', a central section a2, and a bottom section a3. Between the sections a a2 there is formed a hook b', opening forward, and between the sections a2 a3 there is formed a hook b2, opening rearward. The sections C1. d2 co3 may be either parallel or slightly converging, as shown, so as to better grasp the string c. The upper section d is somewhat longer than the central section a2, and it is sunk at the center, as at a5, so as to readily engage or clasp the string. This sunk portion forms an inwardly-projecting bulge, which permits the string to be readily guided Thus there is Serial No. 397,044. (No model.)

into the fastener, and which then bears with its center upon the string to tightly clasp it in place. In this way the stringmay be readily inserted, and it will not be cut or injured under strain. The lowermost section aterminates in a pair of prongs a4. These prongs are upset after having been driven through the shoe or other article D to which the button is attached.

In use ordinary lacing-hooks d are applied to the shoe, corset, tc., excepting at the top, where two of my improved hooks are attached. Each string c is, after being drawn through the hooks d in the usual manner, confined at the top by being-drawn through the hooks h b2 of my improved buttonsA B. The preferable mode of attaching each string is bydrawing it rst through the hook b2 of the button A, thence through hook b2 of button B, and thence through the hook b of button A. This operation can be quickly performed and will tightly bind the string, the button at the same time presenting a neat appearance,

The lacing-button described, consisting, essentially, ot' a single piece of sheet metal having one end formed with the penetratingprongs a4 co4 and its opposite end depressed so as to form an inward bulge ctwhich presents a smooth clamping-surface to the lace, said strip being bent twice upon itself so as to form oppositelydirected loops and the upper loop having the bulged portion a5 lyngwithn its plane, substantially as specified.

ALBERT I. CROWELL.

Vitnesses: Y

F. B. GODDARD, F. v. BEIESEN. 

